Maria Guleghina
Founder and President of the Maria Guleghina Meytargian Charitable Foundation
It is about her that critics wrote - in her veins flows not blood, but the very music of Giuseppe Verdi.
Miss Standing Ovations - one of the main opera theaters in the world – The Metropolitan Opera.
Her partners are the best of the best - Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Renato Bruson, Zubin Mehta, Marco Berti, Valery Gergiev, Riccardo Muti, and many other renowned singers and conductors.
She has opened seasons at La Scala and has sung a record number of productions of Tosca at La Scala and other opera theaters.
Gulegina's repertoire demonstrates her exceptional versatility, encompassing iconic roles such as Tosca and Turandot, as well as Aida, Manon Lescaut, Norma, Fedora, Adriana Lecouvreur, and Macbeth.
Her unique voice is powerful and warm, truly dramatic, having conquered the most prestigious opera stages in the world multiple times.
Starting her career at the Belarusian State Opera, Gulegina made an unforgettable debut at La Scala as Amelia in "Un Ballo in Maschera" alongside Luciano Pavarotti.
Her collaboration with La Scala includes performances in 15 new productions, tours in Japan, and solo concerts. The Metropolitan Opera celebrated her debut in 1991, where she performed over 150 performances in various roles, ranging from Tosca and Aida to Norma and Lady Macbeth.
Gulegina's debut at the Vienna State Opera in 1991 was triumphant, followed by performances at Covent Garden and the Royal Opera, where she sang the role of Fedora and other recognized characters.
Her debut at the Arena di Verona in 1996, playing Abigail in "Nabucco," earned her the "Giovanni Zanettello Award," and since then, she has been a regular soloist at the Arena di Verona.
In addition to her successes in opera, Gulegina is actively involved in humanitarian initiatives. She collaborates with UNICEF to support children affected by poverty and conflict, highlighting the need for global unity.
Throughout her outstanding career, Gulegina has performed solo parts worldwide, with numerous productions broadcast on radio and television. Collaborating with renowned singers and conductors such as Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, Leo Nucci, Renato Bruson, José Cura, Samuel Ramey, Riccardo Muti, James Levine, Zubin Mehta, Valery Gergiev, Fabio Luisi, and Claudio Abbado, she has received prestigious awards such as the Puccini Prize, the Bellini Prize, and the Giovanni Zanettello Award.